HONOLULU -- Native Hawaiian groups demonstrated overnight at Iolani Palace for their rights as they prepare for a showdown in federal court Monday morning.

The groups marched to federal court Monday morning to protest two lawsuits challenging Native Hawaiian programs.

"We're fighting for Kamehameha Schools, for the admissions policy. We're getting ready for the Arakaki bill, the Akaka hearing, all of those things that basically benefit Native Hawaiians. We're here to stand up for those things and give our opinion and what we want as a people," one demonstrator said.

"I'm here and that's to support the Hawaiians. I mean, we've been hurt and had things taken away from us for a long time already and we're tired of it. So, we're standing up for ourselves, something we should've done a long time ago. But now, we're doing it and now, we want justice," another protester said.

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"We want to show our determination in the face of a legal attack upon our rights, upon our identity as Hawaiians. We want to show the court and all the people of Hawaii that we are determined. We will persevere as Hawaiians,"

A group of Hawaiians said they will stay all day at court until a decision is reached regarding the two separate lawsuits.

One lawsuit seeks to abolish the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. The other challenges the admissions policy of Kamehameha Schools.

Demonstrators are expected to return to the courthouse Tuesday for a hearing on another case challenging Kamehameha's admissions policy.